Cameroon, Egypt set for Cup final showdown

LIBREVILLE: Cameroon and Egypt are both aiming to cap remarkable revivals by winning the Africa Cup of Nations when they meet in a finals that few thought possible in Libreville on Sunday evening (Monday in Manila).

These are two of the most successful nations in the 60-year history of the competition, with Egypt unrivalled on seven titles and Cameroon, four-time winners, just behind alongside Ghana.

But at the outset of the tournament in Gabon it was the likes of Algeria, Senegal and defending champions the Ivory Coast who were considered the favorites, with Egypt no more than dark horses in their first appearance since 2010.

Cameroon, meanwhile, came with what looked like their weakest ever squad, handicapped by the refusal of several leading players to accept call-ups from Belgian coach Hugo Broos.

Egypt’s goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary stops the ball during a training session in Libreville on Saturday prior the final of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament Egypt vs Cameroon on Monday. AFP PHOTO

Yet the Indomitable Lions qualified from their group at the expense of the hosts and have since knocked out both Senegal and Ghana to make their first final since 2008.

Then, with a side containing the likes of Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o, they lost 1-0 to the Egyptians in Ghana’s capital Accra.

This current Cameroon side has no such big name stars but Broos has transformed their fortunes over the last 12 months and is now looking for them to make history rather than be content with their unexpected run.

“We want to go into this final and win it. For these young players — 14 of the 23 are playing at their first Cup of Nations — it is possibly a unique opportunity in their careers to win the trophy,” he said.

“There will be enough motivation and inspiration there to make sure we are ready for Sunday.”

Cameroon, who last won the title in 2002, have had 24 hours less time to recover and ready themselves for the game at the Stade de l’Amitie in Gabon’s capital after second-half goals by Michael Ngadeu and Christian Bassogog gave them a 2-0 win against Ghana in Franceville on Thursday.

Egypt played their semi-final in Libreville on Wednesday, although they needed extra time and penalties to see off Burkina Faso after a 1-1 draw, veteran 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary proving their hero in the shoot-out.

Formidable
The Egyptians had won three consecutive Cups of Nations between 2006 and 2010 but missed the last three tournaments amid political upheaval in the country before Argentine Hector Cuper led them to back onto the scene here.

Like Broos, Cuper has a young squad, although there are four survivors from the team that won the title in 2010 in El Hadary, Ahmed Fathy, Mohamed Abdel-Shafi and the Hull City wing-back Ahmed Elmohamady.

The Pharaohs have not exactly been a joy to watch — they have built their success under Cuper around a rock-solid defense that has only conceded one goal so far in Gabon, while they have relied heavily on the star quality of Mohamed Salah at the other end.

Cuper is eager to shake off his own reputation as a loser having suffered numerous agonizing defeats in finals over the course of his career.

But his side has already restored pride in the team among Egyptians but now they have the trophy in sight.

They also have a quite formidable record in finals — just one defeat in eight Cup of Nations finals and two wins out of two on such occasions against Cameroon, with the first coming on penalties in Cairo in 1986.

“It’s a great way to end the competition in the final but it will be even better if we win the cup,” said Elmohamady on Friday.

“We started the competition with one aim, to come back into the Cup of Nations and win it again. That’s been our focus from the beginning.”